MANILVA VENDIMIA 2011.

SUNDAY 4^th/ SEPTEMBER 2011.

We all had a good lie on Sunday morning after our adventures on Saturday; for breakfast we had a full on Brunch to set us up for the day ahead, Eggs, Smoked crispy Bacon,Chorizo,Mushrooms,Tomatoes, Small Lamb Cutlets, Homemade Pork and Cumberland Sausages, Baked Beans and Sauté Potatoes with lots of toast, tea and coffee ! The village fills up very quickly and the band on the main stage outside the Town Hall at the top of our street starts at 2-00pm.On the other stage at the top of Calle Mar a different band plays when the other one is not, we secured a table in the shade opposite Bar Rojas which was our base for the day and started on two bottles of Barbadillo and a Rioja for David, I was on the ‘ Cuba Libre ’which I had in my large glass from home as all the drinks, by law, are served in plastic cups ! The atmosphere soon builds up as the crowds dance and sing along with the music, ‘ Volare ’ ( To Fly ) which is also known as ‘ Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ’ ( In the Blue Painted Blue ) is our favourite which we sing very loud !! As the band plays they throw the Vendimia 2011 hats to the throngs as well as Manilva Fans, both of which are most prized! During the afternoon Lumy’s large Paella is served along with their own sliced ham and cheese, more wine and Bacardi kept appearing as the day went on! At about 5-00pm the parade of ‘ Andalusian ’ horses takes place along Calle Mar through the crowds, they are also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE ( Pura Raza Espanola ) and it is a breed of horse developed on the Iberian Peninsula. This year there was over fifty in the parade as they go up and down Calle Mar dancing, prancing and high kicking as well as kneeling in front of the masses! The pictures below give you just a small snap-shot of the day, so far.

VENDIMIA 2011 GRAPE CRUSHING;

As the excitement builds up I slipped home to change into my traditional outfit; my ‘ Fajina Rojo ’ was spot on as Brenda tied and pinned around my waist; all the locals, the Mayor, Antonia and the councilors as well as friends said how good it looked ! The grapes are emptied onto the top of the press at 7-00pm and the two local ‘ Senor’s ’who have been chosen start the crushing and are then joined by the ‘ Star ’of the show to a very loud cheer and lots of clapping – the first English Pensioner Grape Crusher in the history of Manilva !! The pictures below speak for themselves.

Later we retired to our house for a Chicken curry supper as the music stops at 11-00pm by law on a Sunday, happily tomorrow is a local Bank Holiday so it gives you a chance to get back into the land of the living !

Thought for the Day;

Truth has no special time of It’s own, It’s hour is now – always.

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